Count the Cavaliers among those excited to see a new era in the Central Sequoia League.

After losing eight games in consecutive season, the Central Valley Christian football team broke out in a big way during last year's eight-win campaign. A 7-3 record during the regular season earned the CVC the No. 2 seed in the Central Section Division IV playoffs, where it advanced to the semifinals before losing by one touchdown, 21-14, to eventual champion Bakersfield Christian – a team it beat in its thrilling 34-33 season opener.

No, the Cavaliers are not thrilled to see their three-year starting quarterback Tony Dragt (first-team all-CSL) out the door; but two other CSL powers also lost their star signal callers, leaving the door open for a changing of the guard.

Dinuba's Marcus McMaryion is off to Oregon State. Kingsburg's Brandon Steele is settling in at Bakersfield College.

CVC is ready to seize its opportunity.

"We're excited for a new era in the CSL," CVC coach Mason Hughes said. "Excited to see McMaryion leave. Excited for the Steele era to end in Kinsgburg. Not to knock their replacements, but those guys are tough."

"We want to win (a CSL title) so bad. Another goal would be way second on achievement. If you win that league you're one of best teams around."

But Dragt is far from the only impact senior missing from this season's Cavalier squad. Hughes attributed most of the credit for last year's breakout campaign to the experienced, talented and deep senior class that began playing varsity football as sophomores.

Among that group were three impact blockers who paved the way for a rushing attack that averaged nearly 300 yards per game: All-Tulare County first team linemen Bronson Espinoza (CSL lineman of the year; team captain) and Jeremiah Tiemersma along with All-CSL first-team lineman Alex Pinns.

Speaking of that dominant ground game, All-CSL first-team running back Mitch Pendergast (1,410 all-purpose yards, 15 touchdowns) is also gone after earning honors as an All-CSL first-team utility player and defensive back as well. All-Tulare County second-team tight end Justin Dykstra won't be back either.

In all, CVC graduated 10 seniors who had played varsity football for three years.

"Any time you have a good season, it's probably because you had good players," Hughes said. "[Bringing that class up as sophomores] gave those kids a lot of experience. It made them really smart players. They learned how to play football. All those things poured into it. They were really driven, giving everything they had to that season. They bought into what we were saying about giving their best to every play and not worrying about the scoreboard. I'm really happy for those seniors. They're only going to remember that last year."

Dragt will be replaced by senior quarterback Hunter Knevelbaard, who brings a much different skill set to the table.

Where Hughes describes Dragt as a "fiery ball of emotion" and a "big vocal leader," he calls Knevelbaard "cool, calm and collected." Dragt dominated with his arm talent. Knevelbaard will stands out with his smarts. He is someone who excels at handling the huddle, calling audibles and encouraging his teammates.

"Tony [Dragt] had a cannon of an arm. He could make every throw on the field. That's just rare. There's not going to be many like him," Hughes said. "Guys look to [Knevelbaard] when things aren't going great. They look to him for encouragement. He's really smart. He calls a lot of the plays. He's really good at that. He fits what we do well."

Perhaps most importantly, Knevelbaard "doesn't have to worry about filling anyone's shoes" because he is comfortable being himself.

A retooled offensive line missing four of last year's starters will try to keep him comfortable. While Huges admits this year's version doesn't feature any stars like last year's highly decorated group, he does feel the new unit is more balanced and potentially stronger. It's certainly bigger, thanks in large part to the 6-foot-7, 320-pound frame of junior Blake Walker.

And despite the loss of Pendergast, Hughes feels the Cavaliers are the "deepest at running back we've ever been." Last year's leading rusher Macintyre Garbani is back after piling up 1,509 yards and 20 touchdowns on 224 carries during his breakout junior season. He's joined by senior Alex te Velde, who will also start at inside linebacker after being named to last year's All-CSL first-team defense.

"[Garbani] surprised us too," Hughes said. "He kept getting bigger and faster as the year went on. He learned from a great running back in Mitch Pendergast, who pulled him along and showed him how to be a complete back. He's going to be able to do it all."

Six starters from CVC's defensive front seven are back, including all three starters on a defensive line led by All-Tulare County second team defensive lineman Colton te Velde — one of the area's true run stoppers.

The secondary is young and inexperienced, but Hughes says the group is "probably about as athletic as we've been there in a while."

Young or old, Hughes doesn't want his players focused on repeating last season's spectacular results. Instead, he just wants them focusing on how to get better.

The players seems to be buying into that philosophy. Hughes said they are "stoked" when teammates give great effort and "ticked" when they don't.

Those attitudes helped turn the CVC football program around. Those attitudes will help CVC sustain its success.

"For us coaches, we were right there with those seniors. We had been through those years. We wondered if we were messing up. To have year like last year, it helps. It's a reminder to us that coaches are only as good as their players. We got into this league that is just brutal. Kids early on weren't ready for it.

"Last year was a huge building block. People don't want to play unless having fun. Winning is a lot more fun than losing."

2014 SCHEDULE

AUG. 28

at Woodlake

• CVC and Woodlake last met in 2007 when the Cavaliers beat the Tigers 42-3. The Cavaliers also won the first game of the brief two-year series 52-16 in 2006.

SEPT. 5

at Bakersfield Christian

• A rematch of last year's D-IV semifinal that the eventual Valley champion Eagles won 21-14 after the Cavaliers won a thrilling season opener 34-33. Coach Hughes compared it to watching Oregon vs. Stanford.

SEPT. 12

LINDSAY

• These teams split the first two installments of this series since their days together in the East Sequoia League. CVC won 33-14 in 2012 and Linday won 30-27 last year.

SEPT. 19

CHOWCHILLA

• CVC snapped a three-game losing streak in this series with a 39-18 win last season. Last home game before the brutal Central Sequoia League slate begins.

OCT. 3

at Fowler

• These teams traded big blows in the first two installments of this series as CVC avenged Fowler's 41-13 win in 2012 with a 55-19 rout last year.

OCT. 10

DINUBA*

• The Cavaliers can ring in a new era of CSL football as they get the first shot at Dinuba without Pac-12 quarterback recruit Marcus McMaryion after a pair of narrow losses against the Emperors over the past two seasons.

OCT. 17

EXETER*

• CVC plays the second of consecutive home games to open its league schedule. The Cavaliers won last year's meeting by three touchdowns, 52-31 in Exeter.

OCT. 24

at Kingsburg*

• The Vikings are another recent CSL power adjusting to life without their star quarterback as Brandon Steele settles in at Bakersfield College. The Cavaliers have lost all seven meetings with Kingsburg since joining them in the CSL in 2008.

OCT. 31

at Selma*

• CVC snapped a two-game losing streak with a 43-14 victory last year after winning the first three games of this CSL series by a combined score of 88-3.

NOV. 7

IMMANUEL

• Outside of a 35-17 loss in 2010, the Cavaliers have won the other five meetings with Immanuel over the past six years by a combined score of 212-39.